Twenty-four states and several nonprofit groups are pushing back against President Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship. The states warn that this move would not only undermine the 14th Amendment but also lead to a loss of federal funding for programs supporting children, regardless of their immigration status. At the heart of the issue is the Constitution’s guarantee of citizenship to all persons born in the United States. The states argue that only the U.S. Supreme Court has the authority to interpret the 14th Amendment, making Trump’s executive order an overreach of power.
“President Trump’s attempt to unilaterally end birthright citizenship is a flagrant violation of our Constitution,” said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin at a press conference Tuesday. “For more than 150 years, our country has followed the same basic rule: babies who are born in this country are American citizens.”
“He’s entitled to enact a policy that he sees fit for the country,” but “this is an extreme and unprecedented act,” Platkin said. “This isn’t just an attack on the law. It’s an attack on the very fabric of this nation.”
“Presidents in this country have broad power. But they are not kings,” said Platklin.”
The great promise of our nation is that everyone born here is a citizen of the United States, able to achieve the American dream,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “This fundamental right to birthright citizenship, rooted in the 14th Amendment and born from the ashes of slavery, is a cornerstone of our nation’s commitment to justice.”
“We are ready to take on the challenges of a second Trump administration to ensure that in California our progress will continue, and that our progress will prevail,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said. To block the order, the states are seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent its implementation. Additionally, nonprofit groups in Massachusetts and New Hampshire have filed separate federal lawsuits challenging the executive order.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other advocacy groups have joined the fight, emphasizing that birthright citizenship is a cornerstone of American democracy. They argue that denying citizenship to U.S.-born children would create a permanent subclass of people, undermining the principles of equality and inclusivity.
